What has been agreed?

Here are the key points of the joint report agreed by the UK and the EU this morning:

Citizens’ rights

Reciprocal rights for EU citizens in the UK and Brits living abroad who are resident at the time of the UK’s withdrawal, along with their family members.

They also get the right to bring in spouses, civil partners and children forming part of the family at the time of Brexit, as well as any children born or adopted after that date.

Provisions for citizens’ rights will be incorporated in UK law, and will be monitored by the European Commission

European Court of Justice

For eight years after Brexit, UK courts will be able to refer cases involving EU nationals to the ECJ for interpretation.

ECJ to remain competent for judicial cases registered at the Luxembourg court up to the date of withdrawal, even if they carry on beyond the date of Brexit.

Irish border

Protecting the Good Friday Agreement and avoiding a “hard border”.

If there is no trade deal, they will keep the existing single market and customs union rules on the island, but if there is no deal, the UK will ensure no new regulatory barriers develop between the two sides and that businesses in the province continue to enjoy “unfettered access” to the UK internal market.

The right for all Northern Irish people to take British or Irish nationality is preserved, as well as the Common Travel Area.

Financial settlement

The UK will keep paying into the EU budget up to the end of 2020 “as if it had remained in the Union”, and pay its share of outstanding unpaid EU commitments.

A so-called “divorce bill” to be “drawn up and paid in Euros” – expected to be around £35bn-£39bn.

Britain to receive a share of financial benefits that would have fallen to it as a member of the EU before 2020.

And we will honour commitments to fund schemes to assist refugees in Turkey and displaced people in Africa.

But the details of the deal are causing unrest among Brexiteers, even though at £35billion to £39billion the financial settlement is less than many had feared.

There is anger over accepting the power of European judges to rule on citizens’ rights cases for years to come.

The ex-Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: “A deal in Brussels is good news for Mrs May as we can now move on to the next stage of humiliation.”

The leading pro-Brexit Tory John Redwood was unhappy with the deal, saying: “A good deal has to be better than this, otherwise the Government’s mantra that ‘No Deal is better than a bad deal’ should apply.”

And the former deputy PM Nick Clegg, an ardent Remainer, said it amounted to “game, set and match for the EU on money and EU citizens”.

But the agreement means the EU will recommend to the other 27 leaders at next week’s meeting “sufficient progress” has been made, and the UK can move onto talking about the vital transitional deal and also the long-term agreement on future trade.

The PM admitted it had not been easy for “either side” but “welcomed the prospect of moving ahead”.

Mrs May said: “I very much welcome the prospect of moving ahead to the next phase, to talk about trade and security and to discuss the positive and ambitious future relationship that is in all of our interests.”

She said it included a financial settlement which was “fair to the British taxpayer”. And the so-called “divorce bill” was later briefed to be between £35billion and £39billion, far less than had been feared, and a great deal lower than EU demands which had put the figure as high as €100billion.

It covers Britain’s share of the EU’s budget up to the end of 2020, as well as outstanding debts and liabilities for items such as the pensions of staff at European institutions.

It will be paid over several years and the exact figure is unlikely to be known for some time.

Today’s Brexit deal delivers:– No hard border in Northern Ireland– Secures a good financial deal for British taxpayers meaning more money for our priorities like housing, schools, and the NHS– Secured the rights of EU citizens living here, and UK citizens living in the EU pic.twitter.com/h4QtXdwnFv

Mr Juncker thanked Theresa May ‘for her determination’ as he announced the Brexit breakthrough

And most crucially she said there will be “no hard border” between Northern Ireland and the Republic, preserving the “constitutional and economic integrity of the United Kingdom”.

On Ireland she said the agreement delivers on the principle, to which she and Irish leader Leo Varadkar committed themselves in talks on Thursday, that “there should be no barriers, either north/south or east/west”.

The joint report says that in the absence of an overall trade deal, the UK will maintain “full alignment” with elements of the EU single market and customs union which support the economy of the island of Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement.

In a crucial passage, which appears to have been added to satisfy DUP concerns, it says “no new regulatory barriers” will be allowed between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, and that the province’s businesses will continue to have “unfettered access” to the UK internal market.

The DUP leader Arlene Foster, who negotiated directly with Mrs May into the early hours, said Northern Ireland would now leave the single market and customs union and insisted there would be no border down the Irish sea, dividing Northern Ireland with the rest of the UK.

Hopes were raised last night when Donald Tusk called an early morning press conference

Mrs May has also published a letter to the people of the province, setting out six key commitments that “guided her during Brexit negotiations with the EU”.

And the Tory leader added that the agreement between the UK and the Commission, being published in a joint report, and would offer “welcome certainty” to businesses.

She later tweeted a video saying: “Today’s Brexit deal delivers:

No hard border in Northern Ireland

Secures a good financial deal for British taxpayers meaning more money for our priorities like housing, schools, and the NHS

Secured the rights of EU citizens living here, and UK citizens living in the EU.”

But in a provision likely to spark concerns among some backers of Brexit, the document says the European Court of Justice will continue to have a role overseeing the rights of EU citizens in the UK for eight years after we leave the bloc.

But hopes were raised when the EU Council president Donald Tusk announced yesterday evening he was calling an early morning press conference.

And the Government’s chief whip Julian Smith sent a series of tweets last night which hinted at potential movement in the negotiations.

He wrote: “Theresa May has worked tirelessly this week to try to move EU negotiations onto the next stage in the National Interest”, and added: “Theresa May has led very challenging negotiations this week with energy, persistence and drive.”

Mr Smith went on to say: “I will continue to do everything I can to ensure that the views of Conservatives MPs are fully reflected in phase 2.”

This morning Mr Juncker’s notorious chief of staff Martin Selmayr posted an image of white smoke leaving a chimney, dropping a massive hint a deal had now been agreed.

Cabinet backs the deal

Boris Johnson tweets: “Congratulations to PM for her determination in getting today’s deal.

“We now aim to forge a deep and special partnership with our European friends and allies while remaining true to the referendum result – taking back control of our laws, money and borders for the whole of the UK.”

Penny Mordaunt: “Much cheer at news of EU deal at my visit to Portsmouth seafoods this morning to discuss a sustainable food strategy.

“The world is our oyster! Now let’s discuss the things that matter to those we represent: trade and opportunities.”

Damian Green: “Breakthrough in Brussels. Big successful moment for Theresa May and UK.”

Michael Gove: “This agreement is a significant political achievement for the Prime Minister.”

Andrea Leadsom: “Well done Theresa May!”

Amber Rudd: “I am delighted we have got through phase one.

“There is going to be more to do but it shows under Theresa May’s leadership we are able to have successful negotiations and take forward this really important step of negotiating our exit from the EU.”

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Mr Juncker thanked the PM “for her determination” as he announced the Brexit breakthrough, and also praised the “extremely hard and skilful work over the last weeks and months” of the negotiators.

He said of the joint report the commission is about to publish: “Prime Minister May has assured me that it has backing of the UK Government.

“On that basis I believe we have now made the breakthrough we needed.”

Ireland’s deputy prime minister Simon Coveney said his government was content at assurances it had achieved about avoiding a hard border, and said the deal “fully protected” the Good Friday Agreement.

He said: “Ireland supports Brexit negotiations moving to phase two now that we have secured assurances for all on the island of Ireland.”

PM puts her pledges in writing

Here is Theresa May's full statement on 'six commitments to Northern Ireland'.

Today I agreed a joint report between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the European Union on the progress of our negotiations.

This covered the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and UK citizens in the EU; our financial settlement with the EU; and ruling out a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

This progress now enables the UK Government to move to the next phase of negotiations. This next phase will focus on securing the deep and special partnership between the United Kingdom and European Union that we all want to see.

As a Prime Minister who hugely values Northern Ireland’s position within our United Kingdom – and believes passionately that the United Kingdom is stronger and better together – I want to set out six key commitments to Northern Ireland, principles that have guided me in the negotiations with the EU.

These commitments are consistent with our steadfast support for the Belfast Agreement and its successors; the principles that underpin them; the institutions they establish; and, the rights and opportunities they guarantee for everyone.

This Government will continue to govern in the interests of the whole community in Northern Ireland and uphold the Agreements that have underpinned the huge progress that has been made over the past two decades.

First, we will always uphold and support Northern Ireland’s status as an integral part of the United Kingdom, consistent with the principle of consent.

The Government I lead will never be neutral when it comes to expressing our support for the Union.

Second, we will fully protect and maintain Northern Ireland’s position within the single market of the United Kingdom. This is by far the most important market for Northern Ireland’s goods and services and you will continue to have full and unfettered access to it.

Third, there will be no new borders within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In addition to no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, we will maintain the Common Travel Area throughout these islands.

Fourth, the whole of the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, will leave the EU customs union and the EU single market. Nothing in the agreement I have reached alters that fundamental fact.

Fifth, we will uphold the commitments and safeguards set out in the Belfast Agreement regarding North-South Co-operation. This will continue to require cross-community support.

Sixth, the whole of the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, will no longer be subject to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.

These negotiations are crucial for the future of Northern Ireland and the whole United Kingdom. Whether you voted Leave or Remain, I am determined to deliver an outcome that works in the best interests of everyone across the United Kingdom.